Licensed therapist Eli Harwood adds that for adolescents in particular, too much time behind screens means missing out on crucial developmental experiences. Things like making friends, dealing with conflict, and learning who they are happen best through real-world interactions.
The benefits memes offer work best when they complement our lives, not when they become a substitute for living them.
So the next time you send a meme to a friend or find yourself genuinely comforted by one during a rough week, know that it’s not a waste of time. That little rectangle on your screen can truly put a smile on your face and make you feel a bit less anxious about this mess of a world we all have to live in.
Just maybe put the phone down after a while and go enjoy the sunshine too. Or touch grass, as they say.
